Letters to the editor, 10/16

President's words should be reassuring in a crisis

When the country was in deep economic trouble, President Franklin D. Roosevelt told us that the only thing we had to fear is fear itself. With these words he calmed the country. He took leadership and told us that together we can overcome adversity. While I don't agree with all his policies, he was a great leader when we needed one. Since then, all presidents that I've seen have demonstrated leadership and hope.

Until last week, when President Barack Obama went on CNBC to discuss the government shutdown. It was pointed out that the stock market was doing OK, despite the administration's predictions of disaster. Our president responded by saying that Wall Street had it wrong, and we were in trouble.

What? Shouldn't the president be reassuring? Shouldn't he protect the citizenry from disaster?

The president's words have power, which he's never hesitated to use, and the stock market immediately started to drop.

It's obvious that this shutdown is being used to provide as much pain to advance the president's political agenda. James Clapper (director of National Security) who has admitted to lying to Congress has said that national security is at risk due to the shutdown. Why would he say that? The terms of the shutdown say that essential personnel should be kept on the job.

The GOP House has sent many bills to the Senate providing funding to minimize the pain. But it's "my way or the highway," and Harry Reid and the president reject any relief bills.

Good times.

Rich Rizzo

Hyde Park

Tiny Tim doesn't survive GOP's 'Christmas Carol'

In view of what is going on in Washington, D.C., and in various state capitols controlled by the Republican party, this holiday season we might be treated to a "Tea Party" version of the Charles Dickens' classic, "A Christmas Carol." I think it would go like this:

Ebenezer Scrooge denounces Jacob Marley's ghost as a "liberal do-gooder." The three spirits who visit Scrooge are dismissed as "social pauper-lovers." Scrooge fires Bob Cratchit, his humble clerk. The Cratchit family is put out onto the street and Tiny Tim dies. To top things off, Scrooge tries to shut down a local soup kitchen, to teach the poor a lesson.

Should this version appear, it would likely receive rave reviews from Rush Limbaugh and FOX News.

What version of the holiday classic do you prefer?

Richard F. Whearty

Poughkeepsie

Thanks to all who made forum on jails a success

On behalf of the Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to John Penney of the Poughkeepsie Journal for his excellent work as moderator of our recent forum, "To Jail or Not to Jail?" I would also like to thank the panelists: County Executive Marcus Molinaro, Director of Probation Mary Ellen Still and Democratic Women's Caucus representative Diane Jablonski for their informative and thoughtful contributions.

Thank you to everyone who packed our building that evening, for your passionate concern, for your courtesy to your fellow community members and for your probing questions. And thanks to the Social Justice Committee and other members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, including Laura Bracken, Beatrix Clarke, co-chair Nick Garin, Judith Knauss, Nina Lynch, Len Marcus, Carol Miyake, Conrad Schnakenberg, Geri Willmott, and to our minister, Walter LeFlore, for all your help. If I've left anyone out, please forgive me, thanks to you too.

I hope that those who were unable to attend will view the video on the Journal's website ("N.Y. pushes county for 600-bed jail" Oct. 11), and that this event will have a positive impact on efforts to improve the criminal justice system in our county.

Man sets good example by clearing trash on road

There are any number of adopted road signs on Dutchess County roads, but I would like to note one, in particular, by Mountain View Landscaping in Beekman. John Thomson, the owner, has a sign on Dorn Road and does what the sign implies - he cares for it. I live on Duncan Road, which intersects Dorn Road and Sunday I watched as John went along Duncan and Dorn roads clearing all roadside trash.

I spoke with him briefly, thanking him for his community service and he noted that many of these materials are discarded by people living in town and he wished they would be more responsible. I want to thank John for his dedication to community and urge others to follow his example.

Gerry Hutchings

Dutchess County legislator, District 22

Beekman

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Letters to the editor, 10/16

President's words should be reassuring in a crisisWhen the country was in deep economic trouble, President Franklin D. Roosevelt told us that the only thing we had to fear is fear itself. With these

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